This paper examines the associations between social participation and individual life satisfaction among older adults. It specifically considers the diversity of the practices and social inequalities among this population. For analyses, we used a large survey of individuals of 65 years and older conducted in 2011 in Switzerland (N = 2,727). The first set of linear regression analyses examines Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale and its association with various indicators of social participation. While the second set of logistic regression addresses the issue of social inequalities by evaluating the impacts of gender, age group, region and education on social participation indicators that are significantly associated with the satisfaction with life score. Our results stressed the importance of combining multiple forms of participation for life satisfaction and shows that some forms are particularly meaningful: in particular, the involvement in associations, visitation of family or visitation of friends/acquaintances and church attendance. When inequalities among older adults are considered, having rich and varied social participation, being involved in associations and maintaining private sociability with non-kin appear more elitist. While institutionalised and/or private sociability types of participation appear particularly significant for older adults’ life satisfaction, the most traditional integration forms – i.e. family and religions – are crucial for the more vulnerable. Implications for active ageing was equally discussed as well.

本文探讨了老年人社会参与与个人生活满意度之间的关联。它特别考虑了这一人群中实践的多样性和社会不平等。为了进行分析，我们使用了 2011 年在瑞士进行的一项针对 65 岁及以上人群的大型调查 (N = 2,727)。第一组线性回归分析检验了 Diener 对生活量表的满意度及其与各种社会参与指标的关联。而第二组逻辑回归通过评估性别、年龄组、地区和教育对与生活满意度得分显着相关的社会参与指标的影响来解决社会不平等问题。我们的结果强调了将多种参与形式结合起来提高生活满意度的重要性，并表明某些形式特别有意义：特别是参与社团、探望家人或拜访朋友/熟人以及参加教堂活动。当考虑到老年人之间的不平等时，拥有丰富多样的社会参与、参与社团并与非亲属保持私人社交似乎更精英化。虽然制度化和/或私人社交类型的参与对老年人的生活满意度显得尤为重要，但最传统的融入形式—— 探望家人或探访朋友/熟人以及去教堂。当考虑到老年人之间的不平等时，拥有丰富多样的社会参与、参与社团并与非亲属保持私人社交似乎更精英化。虽然制度化和/或私人社交类型的参与对老年人的生活满意度显得尤为重要，但最传统的融入形式—— 探望家人或探访朋友/熟人以及去教堂。当考虑到老年人之间的不平等时，拥有丰富多样的社会参与、参与社团并与非亲属保持私人社交似乎更精英化。虽然制度化和/或私人社交类型的参与对老年人的生活满意度显得尤为重要，但最传统的融入形式——即家庭和宗教——对弱势群体至关重要。同样讨论了对积极老龄化的影响。